Differential-recoil gun.



K. HAUSSNER.

DIFFERENTIAL RBGOIL GUN.

APPLICATION FILED A UG.16, 1909.

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

2 SHEETB-BHEET l.

K. HAUSSNBR.

DIFFERENTIAL REOOIL GUN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG/.16, 1909.

986,387. Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

B SHEETS-SHEET 2.

KONRAD HAUSSNER, OF EISENACH, GERMANY.

DIFFERENTIAL-RECOIL GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 16, 1909.

Patented Mar. *7, 1911.

Serial No. 513,069.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Konnan HAUssxnn, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at and whose post-oilice address is Eisenach, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Differential-Recoil Guns, of which the folowing is a specification.

In diflferential recoil guns, the accumulator, as is known, brings the barrel forward with an accelerated movement, for delivery of the shot, and after a certain distance has been covered, the explosion of the powder charge is caused to take place by the impingement of the trigger or other part of the breech closure against a projecting part of the upper-carriage. The consequent recoil arrests the barrel and then accelerates it rearward until it has returned to its original loading and aiming position, and simultaneously renews the tension in the accumu later. In case the work stored in the barrel by the recoil, is greater than that which the accumulator can absorb, the ditlerential recoil gun is further provided with a recoil brake of a suitable kind in order to absorb this superfluous energy.

It is essential, for the functioning of the gun, that the barrel always returns to its original position, and this is true whether the direction of the shot is horizontal or is at the greatest angle of elevation or at the greatest angle of depression. Even in tiring with practice charges. the arrangement must be such to insure return to the loading and aiming posit-ion instead of necessitating bringing the barrel back by hand. Likewise with howitzers, which fire with varying charges, the accumulator must have the capacity of so accelerating the barrel that upon firing of every charge, it. will. be returned to its firing position. When the gun fires atthe greatest angle of depression, the running-out is influenced not only by the accumulator but also by the weight component of the running-out mass. It on the contrary the gun fires at the greatestangle of elevation, which under circumstances, for example in balloon guns, may be as much as 90, the running-out mass is acted upon only by the difference between the force of the accumulator and the weight component of the running-out mass.

Neglecting the friction of the moving parts upon the over-carriage, which, in proportion to the force of the accumulator is quences.

very slight, especially when roller bearings are provided, which are already in use in barrel recoil guns, it follows that the difference in the barrel accelerating force, between the greatest depression and the greatest elevation is considerable. In consequence of this, the running-out velocity (V of the bar rel, at the moment of explosion of the powder charge, must be a variable quantity when the distance during which the accumulator acts upon the barrel is unchangeable, as is the case with differential recoil guns now known; that is to say this velocity must be greatest with the greatest angle of depression and smallest with the greatest angle of elevation.

It now the velocity (V resulting from the recoil, is that which would develop when the barrel possesses no running-out velocity and is otherwise free, then, according to the theory of the amplitude of movement, the velocity in the barrel, equal to V, V,, remains at thatwhich seeks to accelerate the barrel back to the starting point. Since V,- under the proposition that the charge does not vary, remains constant, whereas V constantly diminishes from the greatest angle of depression to the greatest angle of elevation it follows that the resultant recoil velocity must constantly increase. If we further take into consideration that the weight component of the recoiling mass acting in the direction of the barrel movement, upon recoil, reduces the recoil velocity with angles of depression, but increases the same with angles of elevation, this difference of the barrel recoil velocity, between the two angles named, must be even greater, and the accumulator will accordingly be put under compression or tensioned with increasing strength, as the angle of elevation increases which is productive of undesirable conse- Moreover if the charge varies as with howitzers or if fired merely with practice cartridges, there will be a constant running-out speed V with the same elevation, but the recoil velocity V. will obviously be reduced with the charge and will be comparatively slight in practice charges. The resultant recoil velocity equal to V,.V will therefore be very small under certain circumstances, and even be minus, that is to say the barrel tends to continue its forward movement even after the effect of the powder gases has ceased. In order to remove t these difficulties, that is to say, in order to retain the same length of recoil or always I arm h, the setting arm h and the trunnion tension the accumulator to the same extent, the improvements hereinafter described serve. These consist in making the length of travel, during which the accumulator acts upon the moving mass, smaller as the barrel recoil velocity V is reduced. That is to say on the one hand, the smaller the charge, the smaller the length of travel, and on the other hand the greater the angle of elevation, with a given charge, the greater will be the length of travel.

In the following explanation, the invention is illustrated by several examples.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a differential recoil gun having a spring accumulator, parts of the latter being shown in section, Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the gun with the left hand wall of the carriage in section on the line 22, Fig. 1, Fig. 2 represents in rear and side elevation a part employed in the gun shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modified embodiment of the invention together with parts of the gun concerned therewith, Figs. 4 and 5 show the side elevation and vertical transverse section on line 44, Fig. 4, a further modification, Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of the gun illustrative of the action of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 41; and 5 when firing at high angles of elevation, and Figs. 7 and S are detail views in side elevation and vertical transverse section respectively, showing a. modified construction of parts employed in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the barrel A is represented in the loading and aiming position. It is supported and guided through its claws a, a on the guiding rails Z), Z) of the inclosed upper carriage B. The tensioned spring 0 constituting the accumulator has its rear support supplied by the bearing E secured to the over-carriage which simultaneously serves for guiding the hollow spring guiding rod F. The collar f on the spring guiding rod, constitutes the forward abutment for the spring. The forward end of the spring guiding rod is connected with the barrel extension a, through which the action of the spring is transmitted to the barrel. gun, provided with wedge breech closure, is located the trigger G which, after a rotation counterclockwise, to the position G shown in dotted lines, releases the firing bolt and ignites the powder charge. In order to actuate the firing device, in differential recoil guns automatically, after imparting the desired running-out velocity, an impact piece in the form of a two-armed lever H as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 2 is rotatably mounted upon the over-carriage, be ing secured to the trunnion carrier J. The

lever I-I comprises an appropriate impact Upon the barrel of the 71,2 rotating freely in the trunnion carrier of the gun, the construction of the lever H being more clearly shown in Fig. 2 The arms of the lever are rigidly connected with its trunnion by pins.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the lug h of the adjusting arm /L1 engages in the groove 2' of the under-carriage L and slides along said groove as the angle of elevation is imparted, which is accomplished by rotating the over-carriage B upon the trunnions 2' 2' which are rigidly connected with the trunnion carrier J of the over-carriage B and which are journaled in the trunnion bearings 7a, Z: of the under-carriage L.

Vere the groove c' concentric to the axis of the trunnions i as indicated by the broken line are 2' a rotation of the lever H relatively to the gun barrel or the entire over-carriage, could not take place. But the groove z'runs in such a direction that in a for -*a1d direction it constantly increases its distance from the axis of the gun trunnions, while in a direction rearward from the trunnions i it approaches the axis of the gun trunnions. From this, it follows that in elevating from the designated horizontal position of the gun barrel, the lever H rotates counterclockwise and at the greatest angle of elevation, which is indicated by the dot-ted. end of the barrel and the over-carriage A B, and in the illustration given, is 60, takes such a position that the impact arm It has attained a position relative to the over-carriage. indicated in dot-ted lines. If the gun barrel is given a depression, the impact arm it, instead of moving forward would receive a rearward rotation.

If the gun barrel, for the purpose of delivering a shot in the horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, is released, the trigger G of the breech closure, of the forwardly sliding barrel, would impinge the impact I arm h, and as this is unyielding, the trigger lever G would be rotated rearward to the dotted position G and thereby directly or indirectly induce the explosion of the charge. It is obvious that the barrel must travel the distance 8, since the accumulator C is acting acceleratively upon it. If, however, the gun barrel is released when at the greatest angle of elevation, that is to say, while in the dotted position A, the trigger G and with it the barrel must cover, in addition to. the distance 8, a further distance 8 before the explosion of the powder charge can take place. The accumulator has thus also acted upon the gun barrel through the distance 8 longer than when the gun barrel was in horizontal position. In consequence of this the running-out speed V at the moment of explosion, is correspondingly greater and the resultant velocity in the gun barrel, after discharge of the powder gases,

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equal to V V is correspondingly less than that occurring in the horizontal position of the gun. In any event, upon recoil of the barrel the weight component of the moving mass acting in the direction of the axis of the moving barrel, will be added to increase the extent of recoil but it will be seen that by selecting the dimension .9 any desired Velocity of recoil may be secured within certain limits.

If the barrel is released for the delivery of a shot at the greatest angle of depression, the explosion takes place before the barrel has traveled the distance 3 since the end of the impact arm 71, as already explained, lies farther rearward in this case. than with the designated position of horizontal barrel. in this case the accui'i'iulator -can store up the minimum work in the gun barrel during the running-out of the same and only the weight component acting in the direction of the axis of the barrel will be added to develop a somewhat greater runningout velocity than would be produced by the accumulator alone. Recoil velocity v v must, however, be the greatest in this case in order to be able to cover the same length of recoil as with the horizontal position or even with the greatest elevation.

For the full explanation of the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 it might be further stateu that the elevation and inclination of the over-carriage together with the barrel. is induced by the gear shaft M, whose toothed wheel X rotates the toothed section O secured to the over-carriage and consequently the over-carriage and with it the barrel. in the one direction or the other about the gun trunnions instead of the special arrangement introduced in Figs. 1 and 2 by which the distance of the impact arm from the trigger is made changeable by the sliding of the lug of the adjusting arm in the groove of the under-carriage. other connections and naechanical movements between the impact piece and the elevating mechanism may be introduced in order to attain the same purpose. Fig. shows an arrangement which likewise regulates. by automatic adjustment of the impact arm 71, the distance during which the accumulator acts upon the barrel this being accomplished by the use of the sighting arrangement.

As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 3, the impact lever is mounted upon the overcarriage. By rotating the shaft P, the large toothed wheel 72, secured thereto is also rotated together with a small toothed wheel I likewise secured thereto. The large toothed wheel 7) meshes with the attachment rod Q, and by a rotation of the shaft clockwise. the attacl'unent rod is moved upward. The small toothed wheel 7) meshes the two-armed lever, whose other arm constitutes the impact member h for the trigger G. The pin A? carrying the two rigidly connected arms is mounted rotatably in the gun trunnion carrier which is rigidly secured to the over-carriage B. As soon, therefore, as the attachment; rod Q. is adjusted by rotating the shaft P, for imparting to the gun barrel, the angle of. elevation corresponding to the distance of the target, the engagen'ient of the small toothed wheel p in the teeth of the arm 70., effects a rotation of the last named arm in the direction of the arrow S and thus moves the impact arm in the direction of the arrow T. If, therefore, the accumulator acts upon the gun barrel in the horizontal position indicated. through the distance a. it will act, by the greatest rise in the attachment rod, through the distance ts- Inasmuch as the adjustment in the attachment stands in dependent relation to the angle of elevation, it follows that with the increase of the angle of elevation, the distance of the trigger G from the impact arm 71 likewise increases and vice versa. Inasmuch as the operation otherwise follows that described with reference to Figs. '1 and 2. a further discussion is unnecessary.

In the two constructions introduced by l to 3, an automatic adjustment of the impact lever is illustrated. As is obvious, one could naturally. in a simple manner effect the adjustment by hand for each angle of elevation. The lever can also be replaced by other mechanical parts. without dctract ing from the character of the invention.

Figs .lto 6 show an embodin'ient of the invention which requires neither hand nor automatic driving adjustment. In this arrangement, the barrel A slides with its claws (J upiin the guiding ribs l) 7) of the overcarriage B. An accumulator of any desired kind is here erected by way of exam ple, in the over-carriage. The difference over the previously described constructions consists in that upon the over-carriage is secured a bearing C which carries a horizontal trunnion 0. upon which a two-armed lever can loosely swing. The upper arm (Z constitutes the striking piece for the trigger G, while the lower arm (I is constructed as a weight arm. If the gun is released in horizontal position for delivery of the shot, it moves forward under the influence of the accumulator until it has traveled the distance a and the trigger G strikes against the piece (Z and produces tirii'ig of the charge.

if the barrel is at the greatest angle of elevation. as shown in Fig. 6, the striking piece (1 remains absolutely at rest. in consequence of the weight arm (7 ren'iaining immo able during the elevating of the barrel. but it has moved relatively to the barrel or the overwith. the teeth of the adjusting arm ii of carriage counterrlockwise, so that the striking arm is more distant from the trigger. The consequence is that when the barrel is released for delivery of the shot, the action of the accumulator upon the barrel takes place during a prolonged distance equal to s 8 before the explosion occurs. In de pressing the barrel, the reverse takes place, that is to say, the distance 8 during which the accumulator acts, will be reduced correspondingly. If, in consequence of the violent striking of the trigger against the impact piece, a certain oscillation of the two armed lever takes place, this is always the same with any given elevation. Also with an impact piece according to Fig. 8, in which in consequence of the direction of the shot, a greater oscillation of the two-armed lever takes place, it is to' be borne in mind that with the same elevation, the aberration will always be the same. lVhen different charges are given, corresponding to the elevation, the described arrangement can also compensate for this. If, however, reductions in. the charge are given Without respect to the elevation, as for example in practice charges, it is necessary to adjust the two-arm lever.

Figs. 7 and 8 show, for example, how the bearing C of the two-armed lever can be made movable, in that it is provided with a foot 0 which can slide in the corresponding guides b b secured longitudinally of the over-carriage The bearing C is provided with a nut in which is fitted a screw-spindle E mounted rotatably, but not slidably, upon the over-carriage. By turning this spindle is displaced, and with it the E, the bearing C two-arm lever. If now, for example, firing is done with practice charges, the two-arm lever is moved considerably toward the trigger G in order to secure the properreturn of the barrel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a differential recoil gun having firing mechanism and means automatically actuating the firing mechanism in the runningout movement of the gun; means for varying the point in the running-out movement at which said actuating means effects the firing and thereby permitting the return of the gun barrel to loading and aiming position to be insured by regulating the distance through which the accumulator acts upon the gun barrel in developing the runningout movement.

2.111 a differential recoil gun, having means for changing its angle of elevation and automatic firing mechanism actuated by the running-out of the gun barrel; means whereby the point at which the firing is effected and thereby the distance through which the recuperator acts upon the gun barrel is automatically changed with the angle of elevation of the gun barrel so that re-- turn of the gun barrel to loading and aiming position may be insured with different angles of elevation.

3. In a differential recoil gun, having a trigger and a striker engaged by the trigger during the running-out movement, to effect firing of the gun, and means for varying the distance between the trigger and striker and thereby modifying the distance through which the accumulator acts upon the gun barrel in developing counterrecoil, so that return of the gun barrel to loading and firing position may be insured under different conditions affecting recoil.

4. In a differential recoil gun, having an elevating mechanism, a firing trigger mounted on a recoiling part of the gun, and a striker mounted 011 the part of the gun which is non-recoiling but which partakes of changes in angle of elevation and projects into the path of the trigger; means being provided for varying the distance between the trigger and the striker.

In a differential recoil gun, having means for changing its angle of elevation and an accumulator for developing counterrecoil and means for firing the gun automatically actuated by the running-out movement of the gun barrel; positive connection between the elevating mechanism and the means which develops firing, adjusting said last named means with changes of angle of elevation and thereby determining the dis tance through which the accumulator accelerates the gun barrel in the direction of counter-recoil.

6. In a differential recoil gun, having means for changing its angle of elevation and an accumulator for developing counterrecoil, means for automatically firing the gun through the running-out movement of the gun barrel; said means comprising a two-armed lever pivotally mounted on a non-recoiling part of the gun, and a trigger carried by the gun barrel; and a curvedli member having engagement with one arm of said lever and adapted to position the other arm thereof relative to the trigger, with changes of the angle of elevation of the gun barrel whereby to determine the dis tance through which the accumulator accelerates the gun barrel in the direction of counter-recoil.

The foregoing specification signed at Erfurt, Germany, this 3rd day of August, 1909.

KONR-AD I-IAUSSNER. In presence of PETER BLANKENBACH, FRITZ SEYFFARTH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

